Dough divider



Aug. 9, 1932. G. B.- EGGERT 1,871,261

DOUGH DIVIDER Filed Aug. 17, 1951 IN1/N701? @USTAV 5. Edam?? HTTORNEY Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUSIAV B. EGGERT, OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO BAKER PERKINS COMPANY, INC., OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK DOUGI-I DIVIDER Application led AugustA 17, 1931.v Serial No. 557,495.

This invention relates to machines fondividing dough and other soft plastic materials into pieces of predetermined volume and weight. It has for its object the provision of an improved mechanism for actuating the ram or plunger which forces dough into the measuring pocket or receptacle. In particular it has to do with those machines having a ram or plunger to force dough into a meas- -l-O uring pocket, adjustable in volume, vthe plunger having a working stroke varying'v in length according to the adjusted volume of the measuring pocket, a positively actuated driving element, such as a crank or eccentric,

which has a constant amplitude of reciprocatory motion, and a resilient power-transmitting connection between the driving ele-V ment and the plunger.

It has for its object to provide an improved D operating connection between the driving element and the ram, such operating connection including the resilient element necessary to permit of the ram traveling through a vari ablev stroke.

In prior machines of this general type there has been provided a resilient spring member in the connection between the source of power and the ram. When the measuring pocket of the divider was adjusted to receive the maximum amount of dougln'the plunger would travel to the full limit of its working stroke and encounter the minimum of resistance. When the pocket was adjusted to receivea smaller amount of dough, the plunger would travel forward until the pocket was filled with dough. `When this Vpoint was reached the spring element would yield, and the remaining travel of the ,driving member would beV taken up in stressing the spring member. It followed that the distortion of the spring member, and hence4 the pressure exerted by the plunger on the dough in the pocket, was greater on a small piece of dough than on a large dough-piece.

This condition is the opposite of that to be desired. A large volume of dough in a deeper pocket and with greater internal frictional resistance requires a greater pressure than does al small volume of dough to compress it to the same density. If the density of a large dough piece is not the same as that of a smaller, the weights of the various sized dough pieces will not be proportional tothe volume of the measuring pocket.

Furthermore, it is desirable to compress the dough in theV measuring pocket to the maximum density possible without injury to its life and texture. When the dough is compressed to this degree the effect of a varying gas contentV upon the density of successive dough pieces is reduced to a minimum, and the divided pieces will be closely uniform in weight.

A Imachine of the type described above could not be made to produce uniformly accurate dough pieces of all the sizes within its range. To build the machine to compress large loaves to the desired maximum degree,

when the plunger was traveling its full stroke, resulted in excessive compression and punishment of the dough when the machine was dividing small loaves. If the machine was made to exert the desired pressure on small loaves a lower compression and inaccurate measuring of the larger loaves resulted. Because of this inherent dilliculty the prior machines necessarily performed most accurately whenk producing some one size of loaf, and were either inaccurate when dividing large loaves, or punished the small sizes excessively, or sometimes presented both disadvantages.

This invention, by a new arrangement of the resilient driving connection between the source of power andtheplunger,providesthat the force of the resilient member is applied to the `plunger-actuating members through a crank connection so located with respect to its pivot center thattheelfective lever arm of the connection increases in length as the plunger approaches its limit of travel on its working stroke. rThus the greater pressure transmitted through the driving connection at its limit of travel for a short stroke is exerted through a short lever arm, and the lower pressure for a long stroke is applied through a longer lever arm. In this way the length of the lever arm through which thev force is applied to the plunger increases as the length of stroke increases, offsetting the 10o greater pressure of the resilient driving connection, which increases as the working stroke becomes shorter. lVith an appropriate design and selection of parts it is possible to build a dough divider according to this invention in which the unit pressure on the dough will be proportional to the size of the pieces being scaled. Therefore, it is possible to automatically compress eachsize of loaf throughout therange of adjustment of the Fig; 2, shows a modified form of theriiiventionjwhich operates in the manner of that shown .in Fig. l'.

Fig; zshows a modified form of the`invention` differing from that of Figs. l and 42 in that the resilient power transmitting element is Vcompress'ible instead of stretchable.

The 'structure shown ink Fig. 1 comprises the following elements: v .The plunger or ram l is arranged to reciprocate beneath the bottom of a dough res ervoir (not shown) of known type. On its working stroke itforces dough intoa measurA ing pocket P, shown diagrammatically,-proA vided with an end wall P', which is adjustable to vary the 'volume of the dough pieces to be measured. The position YXvof end wall P is that fora large loaf, its position Y is that for a small loaf. vA connecting rod 2 is pi'votally connected atlone endA to tlie'ram l and at its other end to a rockei` arm 3. The

rocker arm '3' is journalled at its lower end toa fiXedpivot shaft 4. Pi'votally connectedv to the rocker arm 3 at point 5 is a resilient stretchable connecting member 6 comprising a rod 6a movable endwise within a: cylindrical casing'6b,and-connectedat its lower end to compressa helical spring'c when the niember 6 is elongated. Member 6 is pivotally connected kat its' lower end 7 to a connecting rod '8 whichis in turn connected to one end of a short rockerfarm 9.' Rockera-rm 9 is pivoted at Ait-s other'end toa fixed shaft 10' and acts as a guide to confine the movement ofthe lower ends of the resilient member 6' and of the connecting rod8 to a substantially linear reciprocation. The connecting 'rod 8 is journalled at its 'upper' end to an eccentric or crank member 11', fixed-to a power sha-ft sourcefof'power..

4The vpoint of connection 5 of the resilient poweretransmitting member 6 to-:the rocker 12which shaft is driven from `asuitableA arm 3 is located relative to the pivot shaft 4 so that during the working stroke of the ram l it moves away from the line connecting said pivot shaft and the lower end 7 of the resilient member. That is to say, point 5 moves vaway from a position of dead center, and the length of the lever arm through which its force is transmitted increases durin@ the working stroke.

-ieferring to Fig. l, L designates the forward limit of travel of the ram for a large loaf. S designates its position when traveling forward on its shorter stroke to form a small loaf. S designates the lever arm through which the pressure of the resilient member 6 is transmitted to the rocker arm 3 when the ram l travels through a short stroke in dividing a small loaf. L designates the lever arm through which the lesser pressure of the resilient member is transmitted when the ram travels through its full stroke in little and a minimum pull is exerted on the rocker arm. rlhis vminimum force is effective throughthe longer lever arm L. When measuring a small loaf, the end wall P of thel lmeasuring pocket is set inposition Y and the ram moves to the left on its working stroke to position S. At thispoint the pocket is filled with dough and the resistance of the dough stops the ram. The connecting rod 8 continues to travel' through its working stroke, stretching the resilientmember 6 to a greater extent than .in the first instance; Consequently an increased pull is exerted. on therocker arm y3. Thisincreased `force,.how ever, is exerted through the shorter lever arm S, so that the resultant effective pressure of the ram on the dough in the pocket can bel equal to or less than-its pressure on a longer stroke.

Fig. 2 shows the ram at the end of the working stroke through-which it travels when the 4machine is measuringia large loaf.` In

this casethe plunger 1 is shown in position Ll and the resilient connecting member .6 is stretched to a small degree. This construction differs fromv that, of Fig. l in that the connecting rod 8 of Fig. 1 is eliminated and the resilient connecting member 6 isjourf nailed" directly to the eccentric l1 and is pivotally connected at its other end to the'rocker` arm 3. The same principle-'of operation applies, however, in that on theshorter stroke of the plunger to position S, the point of connection 5 of the stretchable rod to the rocker arm travels only to the position indicated by dotted lines, and the greater force v of the more highly compressed spring 60 is transmitted to the rocker arm 3 through the lever S. On the full stroke of the ram 1 to point L, the lesser force exerted through the resilient member 6 is transmitted through the longer lever arm L.

Fig. 3 shows another arrangement of the mechanical parts according to the principle of the invention. In this case a compressible connecting member 13 is journalled at one end to the eccentric 11 on the drive shaft 12 and is pivotally connected at its other end to a crank member 14 fixed to the rocker arm 3 and extending below the pivot point l of the rocker arm. 'Ihe crank member 14 may of course take the form of an extension of rocker arm 3 beyond the pivotpoint. In this application of the invention the plunger 1 1s shown in position L at its forward limit of travel at the end of a full working stroke when the machine is dividing large loaves, and the small force transmitted by the connecting member 13 is exerted through the longer lever arm L.

lVhen the plunger is filling a smaller measuring pocket to form smaller loaves, it trav els to the left to the position S. In this case the pivoted connection 15 between the resilient connecting member 13 and the crank member 14C travels only to the position indicated in dotted lines, and the increased pressure of the more highly compressed member 13 is exerted through the shorter iever arm S. g From the foregoing it is apparent that diiierent mechanical assemblies can be used which operate according to the novel principle of the invention.

While I have shown a. single plunger, rocker arm, resilient member and eccentric member to illustrate the invention, I do not limit myself to this construction. In practice two or more sets of rocker arms, resilient connecting members and reciprocating drive elements may be employed to actuate the plunger 1 and a plurality of plungers and operating members may also be employed in a single machine. The dividing head (not shown) which contains the meas uring pocket may be of any suitable known type, either rotary or reciprocatory.

Variations in the form of rocker arm 3 can be made. For example, referring to F ig. 1, the connection of the rocker arm 3, to the resilient power transmitting member G need not be offset from the rocker arm, as shown. The pivot shaft 4 of the rocker arm 3 may be located farther to the right, so that the connection 5 can be located on the center line of the rocker arm 3. Also the member imparting the resilient drive need not be pivoted directly to the rocker arm, but may be journalled to a separate crank arm fixed to a common shaft with the rocker arm.

The essential points of the invention are,

first, that the power shall be transmitted from the `drive shaft throughv an 'operative'.

linkage which includes arresilient power transmitting 'elementvof any suitable type; and second, that such linkage shall be operatively connected to the plunger-actuating rocker arm at aI point so located with' respect to the pivot center `of the rocker arm that the force sha-ll be. exerted through a lever arm which increases in length 'as the working stroke of the rocker arm islengthene'd. rlhus the changing lever `is utilized to` compensate or overcome the effect of the varying pressure exerted by the resilient member.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim anddesire to secure byv Letters Pat-- ent is:

`1. In a dough divider having a reciprocable plunger for charging dough into a measuring pocket, said plunger yieldingly driven so that its working stroke varies with the quantity of dough being measured, in

combination, ay rocker arm pivoted at one end to a fixed support and connected at its other end to the plunger, resilient actuating means operatively connectedto said rocker arm, driving means for imparting reciprocatory motion to said resilient actuating means, the point of connection of said actuating means to said rockerv arm being soy located relative to the pivot of said rocker arm that said point of connection mov-es away from a dead center positionduring the working stroke. .Y l

2. In a dough divider havinga reciprocable plunger for'charging dough into ameasuring pocket adjustable in volume, said plunger yieldingly driven so that its workv ing stroke varies with the quantity of dough being measured, in combination, a rocker arm journalled on a iixed pivot, and operatively connected at one end to reciprocate said plunger, an eccentric drive element driven from a source of power, power transmitting means including a resilient element operatively connecting said eccentric element and said rocker arm, its point of coni nection to said rocker arm being so located relative to the pivot of said rocker arm that said point of connection moves away from dead center during the working stroke, and the force is exerted through a lever arm which becomes longer as the length of the working stroke of the plunger increases.

3. In a dough divider having a reciprocable plunger for charging dough into a measuring pocket adjustable in volume, said plunger yieldingly driven so that its working stroke varies with the quantity of dough being measured, in combination, a rocker arm ]o urnalled on a iiXed pivot and operall-O connected Vat oney end to reciprocate said. plunger, an eccentric ydrivel relement .driven roma source of power, a stretchable w resilient; member operatively connected at one-endi-tosaid eccentricshaft to-bereciprocatedztherebyzand at its other end Vconnected t0;said .rocker arm at afpoint oHset from the pivot ofsaid rocker arm and located so that, on. the working stroke such point of f f connection to. said rocker arm moves away from .deadcenten whereby the increased tension` of 'the vstretchable member during a short. working-stroke of said plunger is exerltedthr'ough ah'short lever arm and during l u] a.- longer working stroke the decreased pull of said stretchable member is exerted through arlonger lever arm. Y

4. In a dough divider having a reciprocable plunger for charging Vdough Vinto a measuringpocket adjustable in volume, said plunger yieldingly driven so that its workmg stroke varies with the volume of said measuring pocket, in combination, an eccentricrshafft driven from a source of power, ii a 'rockerarm operatively connected at one end to: reciprocate said plunger, and pivoterl near its'other end to a fixed' support, a compressible resilient connecting member n operatively connected atone end to said ec- "30 centric, :for endwise reciprocatory motion, andi pivotally vconnected at its other end to oscillante said rocker arm, its point of connection Abeingso located with respect to the pivot of A'said'frocker arm that the effective "35 lever arm, :throughwhich the force Atransmitted by ,saidI resilient connecting member is'. applied :to 'the rocker arm, becomes llonger as the length of the working stroke of said plunger increases. f c "40 Intestm'ony whereof@ aiiix'mysignature.

GUSTAV B. EGG-ERT. 

